Label holding attachment for typewriters



April 1953 H. R. SYMONDS 2,828,848

LABEL HOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed Dec. 6. 1954 INVENTOR.HEW/P) R, 5YMO 5 United States Patent LABEL HOLDING ATTACHMENT FORTYPEWRITERS This invention relates to a new and improved label holdingattachment for typewriters. More particularly the invention relates to adevice which may be removably attached to the platen of a typewriter forthe purpose of holding small pieces of paper, such as labels, tags,cards and the like, in position while being typed. Reference is made tomy copending patent applications Serial Nos. 350,180 and 370,389, now'Patent No. 2,758,695.

Small pieces of paper, such as druggists labels, are many times not ofsufiicient length so that the pressure rolls of standard typewritersengage and hold them in position. Unless manually held in place, suchlabels tilt or fall from position, thus creating a problem, particularlywhere large numbers of such labels are used. The present invention is aninstrumentality for holding labels in place.

The invention is of particular importance in that the device may beinstalled and removed rapidly and easily and the labels may be insertedin position in the device and withdrawn rapidly and easily.

One of the features of the instant invention is the provision of adevice of the character described in which two separate pieces offlexible plastic are employed. The label is retained by inserting theupper edge thereof under a flap in the device, which flap is locatedspaced downwardly from the upper edge of the device as a whole. It willbe understood that the device may be inverted, whereupon the flap islocated spaced upwardly fromthe lower edge of the device. The portion ofthe device above the upper edge of the label is preferably ofconsiderable flexibility as distinguished from the portion which engagesthe label itself, the flexible upper portion of the device more closelyconforming to the cylindrical contour of the platen and hencefacilitating revolving the platen without interference with the pressurerolls and the. like, which are otherwise apt to damage the label-holdingdevice. At the same time, the flap which holds the upper edge of thelabel may be of sufiicient rigidity adequately to retain the label inplace and yet sufiiciently flexible to assume the cylindrical shaperequired for conformance with the shape of the platen.

Because of the simplicity and low cost of the device, it is readilyadapted for use as an advertising medium. The fact that the device isintended for more or less permanent positioning on the platen, brings anadvertising message printed or otherwise aflixed to the device, to theattention of the user at frequent intervals. A typical example of theuse of the device is in typing druggists prescription labels. The deviceitself may be printed with advertising copy of a druggists supply house,thereby bringing the advertising message to the attention of thedruggist while he is typing labels at frequent intervals throughout eachworking day. Alternately, the advertising message may be printed on aseparate sheet which is installed under the label holder on top of theplaten.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawingsin which similar characters of reference represent corresponding partsin each. of the several views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the typewriter platen with onemodification of the device installed thereon and with a label insertedin the device;

Fig. 2 is a section through the platen transverse to the axis thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2,modified in that the advertising message of the druggists supply houseis printed on a separate slip which fits under the main portion of theholder;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a modified device in which the holder ispre-fonned to conform to the cylindrical shape of a platen;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of thedevice;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another modified formof the device;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another modificationof the device;

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11 are perspective views in reduced scale showingdifferent locations for the application of adhesive to hold the devicein position on a platen;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section through a platen showing the devices ofFigs. 9 and 10 installed in place, and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the forms of Figs. 8 and 11installed in place.

The present invention will be described as applied for use in typingdruggists prescription labels of, the type attached to bottles, tubesand boxes in which prescription medicines are dispensed. It will beunderstood that the invention has other uses than in typing such labels,and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to suchuse. Prescription labels are generally small in dimension and have alength such that when in typing position on the platen of a.conventional typewriter, 'the pressure rolls which function to retainconventional-size paper in position, do not contact the labels.Accordingly, the labels tend to shift in position while being typed, allof which causes inconvenience to the typist and detracts from thefinished appearance of the label.

A conventional cylindrical typewriter platen 21 is shown in theaccompanying drawings, the details of construction of such platen beingof no concern to the present invention. Pressure rolls 22 are commonlyemployed in various positions depending upon the design of theparticular typewriter to engage the paper being typed. As is illustratedherein, the location of the pressure rolls 22 is such that a small paperdruggists label 23 is not held and engaged by the pressure rolls whilebeing typed. The primary purpose and object of the present invention isto afford a means to hold the label in position despite the fact that itis not engaged by the pressure rolls 22. The conventional druggistslabel 23 is commonly supplied with printed material 24 such as the nameand address of the druggist. The blank space above the printed matter 24is commonly used for typing in the number of the pre-. scription, thename of the doctor, and the directionsfor use of the drug. The holdingdevice which is the subct of the present invention is so constructed andde' signed as to obstruct or interfere with use of the blank space abovethe printed matter 24 as little as possible.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. l to; 3' inclusive, aflexible, relatively thin main body p'ortionv 26 having dimensionsgreater than those of the label 23, is employed. Thus the body portion26 fits around the. platen 21 and may be permanently or temporarilyheldin position as by adhesive 33 at the top and adhesive 34 at thebottom or the like. To facilitate engagement'of the device with theplaten, a relatively more flexible and preferably thinner strip 27overlaps the upper edge of the main body portion 26 and is adheredthereto by means of adhesive 28. In place of adhesive, the two; members26 and 27 may be adhered together'by' heiatrr a i g. T b n i b m s at a.vo atile sqlven iionfj other conventional means for bonding plastic andthe like together, the location of the bond being preferably at thatlocation indicated by reference numeral 28. It

willbe noted that a space 29 is provided under the bottorn edge of theleading strip 27. The upperedge of the label 23 may be inserted underthe flap 29 and held in position thereby. If the device is used foradvertising purposes, an advertising message 31 of the druggists supplyhouse may be printed directly upon the main body portion 26 or the strip27. Alternatively, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, a separate sheet ofmaterial 32 such as apieceof paper may be printed with the advertisingmessage and suitably attached to the back of main body portion 26.Inasmuch as the main body portion 26 is preferably transparent, themessage printed on the slip 32 is visible. In order to adhere the deviceto the platen, adhesive 33 is applied to the top edge of the leadingstrip 27 and adhesive 34 to the bottom edge of the main body portion 26.As hereinafter set forth in detail, the location of adhesives 33 and 34is subject to considerable modification. A protective cover mayinitially be placed over the adhesive and removed immediately beforeuse, as well understood in the art.

In the modification of the device shown in Fig. 4, the main body portion36 is initially shaped in arcuate form conforming to the curvature of aconventional platen. The curved form assists in locating the device inposition on a platen. The adhesives 33 and 34 illustrated in Fig. 4 maybe eliminated if the resiliency of the material of which the body member36 is formed is sufiicient to hold the device in position on a platen.In other respects the device illustrated in Fig. 4 is essentially thesame as that shown in Fig. 3.

In the device shown in Fig. 5, the main body portion 37 is folded overin a flap 38 at its top edge. To secure good adherence of the flap 38 insuch position as to engage the upper edge of the label which is insertedthereunder, adhesive 39 should be applied at the fold. As has previouslybeen indicated, heat sealing or sealing with a volatile solvent may besubstituted for the adhesive 39. The space 41 under the flap 38 issufiicient for proper gripping of the upper edge of the label. Theleading strip 42 is bonded by any suitable means to the back of the mainbody portion 37 adjacent the upper end thereof,

and projects upwardly over the top of the flap 38. As has been set forthwith reference to the previous modifications, it is desirable that theleading strip be more flexible than the main body portion 37 andgenerally for such purpose the leading strip 42 may be thinner than thematerial of which the main body portion 37 is formed.

Adhesive33 and 34 is applied to adhere the device to the platen.

If the device shown in Fig. 6, the leading strip 43 is applied to thetop of the flap 38 instead of to the underside of the main body portion37 as is shown in Fig. 5.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the main body portion 46 may be of a heightequal to the full height of the holding device. A separate, preferablyless flexible strip 47 is secured to the main body portion 46 by meansof adhesive 48, thereby providing space 49 under the bottom edge of thestrip 47 for insertion of a label (not shown). Thermal or chemicalbonding of strip 47 to body portion 46 may be employed. It will be notedthat the space 49 for insertion of the label is spaced downwardly fromthe upper edge of the main body portion 46 an appreciable distance,thereby providing a portion above the strip 47 which is more flexibleand adheres more satisfactorily to the platen when the device isinstalled thereon. Reversal of the position of strip 47 so that it is atthe bottom may be preferred.

In Fig. 8, a device generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, isillustrated, it being understood that in place of the device shown inFig. 8, various devices such as those shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 mightbe substituted.

The location of the adhesive is the distinguishing feature strip isadhered to the back surface of said main of Fig. 8. As thereinillustrated it will be noted that the adhesive 51 is applied to thefront surface of theupper edge of the leading strip 27. As shown in Fig.13, if the length of the device is greater than the circumference of theplaten 21, the upper and lower edges of the device overlap, and hencethe adhesive 51 bonds itself to the underside of the bottom edge of themain body portion 26. This form of device is satisfactory in that theadhesive does not come in contact with the platen and hence no adhesiveremains on the platen when the device is removed.

As shown in Fig. 9, the adhesive -52 is applied to the back of the upperedge of the leading strip 27. As shown in Fig. 12, with the deviceinstalled on the platen with the upper and lower edges overlapping, theadhesive 52 adheresto the bottom of the main body portion 26 to hold thedevice in place on the platen. It will be noted by contrasting Figs. 12and 13 that the overlapping edges are reversed.

In Fig. 10, the adhesive 53 is applied to the front of the bottom edgeof the main body portion 26. The installed position of the device shownin Fig. 10 is that illustrated in Fig. 12.

In Fig. 11, the adhesive 54 is applied to the back of the bottom edge ofthe main body portion 26. The installed position of the device in Fig.11 is illustrated in Fig. 13.

Although the foregoing invention has been described insome detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be practicedwithin the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Holding means for holding labels on a platen comprising, a thin,flexible main body portion, adhesive on said holding means to adheresaid holding means to a platen, and a leading strip overlapping theupper edge of said main body portion and adhered thereto at a positionspaced upwardly from the lower edge of said leading strip, the loweredge of said leading strip being independent of and separated from theopposed surface of said main body portion.

2. Holding means for holding labels on a platen comprising, a main bodyportion, a flap formed on said main body portion at a location spaceddownwardly from the top edge of said device, said flap being open alongits lower edge for insertion of the upper edge of a label beneath theflap, and adhesive for securing said holding means in position on aplaten, said holding means being more flexible above said flap thanbelow said flap.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which a leading strip is positionedoverlapping the upper edge of said main body portion, the lower portionof said leading strip comprising said flap.

4. A device according to claim 2 in which a separate strip is adhered tosaid main body portion at a location spaced downwardly from the upperedge of said main body portion, the space under the lower edge of thestrip comprising said flap.

5. A device according to claim 2 in which said main body portion isfolded over along its upper edge to provide said flap and which furthercomprises a leading strip adhered to said main body portion along itsupper edge.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which said leading body portion.

7. A device according to claim 5 in which is further provided a leadingstrip adhered to the upper front surface of the turned over portion ofsaid main body portion.

De Saussure May 3, 1921

